Southeast Missouri State football preview: Talented safeties lead defense

Southeast Missouri State's defense stepped up big last year, helping pave the way for the Redhawks' record-setting season.

The Redhawks' defense led the Ohio Valley Conference by allowing 21.5 points per game while ranking among the national leaders in interceptions and turnovers.

Many of the key players off that unit completed their eligibility, including the four top tacklers. But several vital cogs return, led by All-American junior free safety Tylor Brock.

First-year defensive coordinator Brian "Moose" Mohnsen is confident in a group that has plenty of work to do, but one he believes again will prove stout.

"We've got a ways to go, but we're coming," Mohnsen said. "The big thing is to grow. They're doing a good job. Everything is progressing well."

Southeast returns five defensive starters from a unit that allowed 317.1 yards per game to rank second in the OVC. A position-by-position look at Southeast's defense:

Line

Southeast welcomes back two starters to this group in senior end Steve Hendry and junior end Justin Love.

Hendry ranked second on the team with three sacks while intercepting a pass and recording 18 tackles.

Love, a regular at end since his freshman season, is Southeast's top returning tackler among linemen with 42. He was fourth on the squad in tackles for loss with four while adding two sacks, five quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

Sophomore Frankie Davis saw considerable action at nose tackle last year, recording 17 stops. He is listed No. 1 on the depth chart. Junior college transfer Taylor Ramsey is No. 1 at the other tackle spot.

Juco transfers Quinn Perry, Josyah O'Keefe-Lopez and Joe Malolo also will receive playing time at tackle.

Seniors Johnnie Morgan and Courtney Brame saw significant action at end last year, recording 10 and eight tackles, respectively, while sophomore Trent Peterson made two tackles and recovered a fumble.

Juco transfer Alonzo Nevarez and sophomore Nathan Jones are other line candidates.

Linebacker

This unit is among the squad's most experienced, although the Redhawks graduated two players who were their top two tacklers.

Junior Darrick Borum is a returning starter who led the Redhawks and tied for fifth in the OVC with four sacks. He ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with 7.5 while recording 48 tackles. He also tied for first in the OVC with three fumble recoveries and had two interceptions.

Junior Blake Peiffer, a Jackson High School graduate, made six starts last year and is the Redhawks' top returning tackler with 59, which ranked fifth on the squad.

Senior Philip Klaproth, who has seen considerable starting action since his freshman season, started three times a year ago. He recorded 38 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack.

Sophomore Wisler Ymonice is another key returner. He saw considerable action as a true freshman, recording 15 tackles.

Among several other candidates for playing time are junior Brian Fercho, who had one tackle last year; redshirt freshman David Smart; redshirt freshman Daniel Siehndel, a transfer from Northern Colorado; sophomore Derek Gohn; and true freshmen Joey Lohmann and George Neuhaus.

Secondary

This unit is headlined by senior strong safety Bryan Blanfort and Brock, Southeast's lone returning all-OVC first-team defensive performer who was an All-American last year and has appeared on various preseason All-American lists for 2011.

Brock led the OVC and tied a school record with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also is Southeast's second-leading returning tackler with 56, which ranked sixth on the squad.

Blanfort missed all of last season with a knee injury but was second on the club with 79 tackles in 2009.

Among others in the mix at safety are sophomore Buffalo transfer Ben Kargbo; senior Kris Cottner from Perryville High School; junior Branden Spann; sophomore Derek Walker from Central High School; and redshirt freshmen Tamaris Surdock and Matt Starks.

Cottner had eight tackles last year, mainly on special teams, while Spann added one tackle.

Southeast graduated both its starting cornerbacks, but senior Kweku Arkorful has plenty of experience. He recorded 19 tackles, intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles a year ago.

Sophomore Bradley Montgomery, who had to sit out last year as a transfer from Jackson State, joins Arkorful in ranking No. 1 on the depth chart at cornerback.

Seniors Cory Holmes (three tackles) Sheldon McCullough (two tackles) and Jaren Butler (two tackles) saw action in 2010, while true freshman Tim Hamm-Bey also is in the mix.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

Junior Drew Geldbach returns after making 12 of 17 field goals, including a 53-yarder, and 33 of 38 extra points.

Junior Brandon Gabbard enters his third season as the long snapper. Senior quarterback Matt Scheible is the holder.

Punter

Sophomore Joe Vucic is back after averaging 37.2 yards per punt while pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line 10 times.

Returns

Redshirt freshman Spencer Davis, who was ticketed to handle returns last year before missing the entire season with an injury, is being counted on to return both kickoffs and punts.

Cottner also has experience in the return game.